Texas Rangers Get Outfielder They Needed In Alex Rios

By Ryan Gaydos

Tied for first in the AL West with the Oakland Athletics, the Texas Rangers finally acquired an outfielder that will replace the suspended Nelson Cruz. The Rangers acquired outfielder Alex Rios from the Chicago White Sox Friday for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Leury Garcia is also to be part of the deal as he is heading to Chicago.

Rios was placed on waivers earlier in the week by the White Sox and was claimed by an unknown team on Thursday. It was reported that a deal was unlikely for Rios because the White Sox wanted one of the Rangers’ three top prospects and the Rangers balked. Now, Chicago has settled with Garcia.

The Rios trade comes in the wake of the Cruz suspension, which was handed down Monday because he was involved with the Biogenesis clinic. Texas knew this was going to happen but did not make any effort to acquire an outfielder prior to the non-waiver trade deadline a week ago. Acquiring Rios is key because of the huge race the team is in with the Athletics for the division crown.

Rios is batting .277/.328/.421 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs. He has not progressed the way he would have like this season, and part of that could be because the White Sox are not vying for a division crown like they were last season.

It will still be interesting to see who picks up the rest of his contract. He is still owed $12 million this season and a total of $25 million over the next two years with a $13.5 million club option in 2015. He signed a seven-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays prior to getting traded (also in a waiver deal) to Chicago in 2009.

Ryan Gaydos is a MLB columnist for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google